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Watershed and Lake Facts

Photo by M. Kjelstad, 2010

Population and Drinking Water Supply

Lake Whatcom is the drinking water source for over 100,000 residents of Whatcom County, about half the county's population.

Lake Whatcom provides drinking water for the City of Bellingham, the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District, several smaller water districts and associations, and a few hundred homes that draw water directly from the lake.

The City of Bellingham withdraws water from Basin 2 through a 1,200-foot pipeline that goes to Whatcom Falls Park.

About 16,000 people live in the Lake Whatcom Watershed, in about 7,000 homes (As of January 2018).

Volume, Area, Elevation

Lake Whatcom holds about 250 billion gallons of water.

Lake Whatcom is about 10 miles long and just over a mile wide at its widest point.

Total shoreline length is approximately 30 miles.

Surface area of Lake Whatcom is about 5,000 acres, with 8 percent within City limits.

Surface area of Lake Whatcom Watershed is about 56 square miles (36,000 acres), with about 3 percent within City limits.

Average elevation is approximately 314 feet above sea level.

Maximum lake level is 314.94 feet.

The City of Bellingham controls lake level using a control dam at the head of Whatcom Creek.